A rough guide to... Barnet

1 August 2016

The good news for Town fans is that we usually beat Barnet. The bad news is that they still finish above us in the league

How are you?

The Bees were promoted back to the Football League, as Conference champions, in 2015 as Town looked on longingly, and with more than just a touch of jealousy.

The relationship between our clubs is complex. Our first seven meetings all ended in Grimsby wins. It wasn't until that seventh attempt the Bees even managed a goal against us, in a 4-1 defeat.

However, if Grimsby win the battles, Barnet win the wars. A 2-0 win for the Mariners in the last but one match of 2009-10 did not prevent Grimsby, not Barnet, from being relegated. In 2015, Town won both matches between the two sides 3-1. It was still Barnet who won their championship, their last spell in the Conference lasting a mere two years.

What kind of season did you have?

Barnet finished 15th in the fourth flight in 2015-16, comfortably above the relegation zone where they so often found themselves before their relegation to the Conference. Indeed, having first joined the Football League in 1991, but since had two spells in the Conference, the Bees are a kind of yo-yo team. Top striker John Akinde helped them have a reasonable season, by scoring an impressive 23 league goals.

How are you feeling?

Currently 14th, Barnet have got off to a steady start. Akinde is once again proving his goal scoring prowess with 12 goals in 15 games. Omar Bogle will certainly be looking to close the gap over the next few games.

Bees fans believe the fate of their season will be known after the January transfer window, and whether or not they have managed to keep hold of their influential striker.

Where are you from?

Failing to find a suitable location for a new ground in Barnet, the Bees moved their club from Underhill to the Hive Stadium in Harrow for the start of the 2013-14 season. They shared this ground with rugby league side London Broncos for two years. Their women's football team, the London Bees, also play their home games there. Their chairman has since announced that they will be staying at the Hive, and not looking to relocate back to Barnet.

You must be starting to get a bit fed up with Martin Allen?

When Edgar Davids left at the beginning of 2013, 'Mad Dog' Martin Allen returned to manage the club for a fourth time. There is no doubt that he loves Barnet FC. But having not made much progress over the last two years, and seemingly reliant on Akinde for everything, is it time to move on?